Nas: Jackson astounded me

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The American star is influential in hip-hop but has always loved different styles of music.

Nas was inspired by Michael Jackson's outfit The Jackson 5 before embarking on his own multi-platinum career.

"The first album I owned was actually a Sesame Street one, but after that it was the Jackson 5's ABC album. It blew my mind," he gushed in an interview with NME magazine.

"I don't listen to it as much anymore, but I still love the tracks when I hear them. They're still great songs."

Nas also revealed his favourite current artist. The 38-year-old rapper is impressed by Janelle Monáe's different style of performing.

"She really loves the old school. I love her live show. Great music, great choreography. I like that," he smiled.

Nas still dreams of playing certain venues. The star would love to perform at the Copacabana in New York City.

"I have so many ideas when it comes to doing a show. There are places up in New York like the Copacabana, and if you didn't play there you were nobody," he said. "Everybody's dream was to play there, from Nat King Cole to Sam Cooke to Frank Sinatra.

"Lots of people were nervous to perform there. It's not an arena, but it had this prestige that was bigger than an arena."